Negligent Homicide Plea In Vehicle Death

SNOW HILL — A Pocomoke man arrested last September on homicide by motor vehicle and other serious charges, after dragging another man attempting to stop him to his death, plead guilty this week in Circuit Court to negligent homicide while impaired and awaits his fate pending the outcome of a pre-sentence investigation.

Around 9:15 p.m. on Sept. 10, 2010, Pocomoke Police responded to the parking lot of a tractor supply business for a report of a victim thrown from a moving motor vehicle. Police interviewed witnesses and learned the victim had been hanging from the door of a vehicle driven by Jesse James Mason, 24, while it was in motion.

According to police reports, Mason had been consuming alcoholic beverages throughout the evening and the victim was attempting to stop Mason from driving away. However, Mason accelerated rapidly from the parking lot with the victim still clinging to the door. The victim was eventually thrown from the vehicle, causing the fatal injuries.

Due to the nature and circumstances of the incident, the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) was called in to conduct an investigation. As a result, Mason was charged with negligent homicide by automobile while impaired, negligent automobile homicide while under the influence of alcohol, negligent manslaughter by automobile, reckless endangerment and other charges related to driving under the influence.

This week in Circuit Court, Mason pleaded guilty to negligent homicide by motor vehicle while impaired and a pre-sentence investigation was ordered.

Arrest Made In Vehicle Break-Ins

WEST OCEAN CITY — A West Ocean City man was arrested on theft charges last weekend after police were able to connect him to a string of vehicle break-ins in the area.

Early last Saturday morning, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a citizen complaint of a suspicious person in the area of Routes 50 and 611 in West Ocean City. Sheriff’s deputies located a suspect, later identified as Sean Richard Frimmel, 20, in the process of stealing various items from unlocked cars.

Upon further questioning, Frimmel confessed to numerous other thefts in the area over a period of two weeks. With the assistance of the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) and the Maryland State Police, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Enforcement Team searched Frimmel’s residence and an extensive amount of stolen property was recovered.

WCBI is asking for citizen’s help in returning the stolen property recovered to the rightful owners. Anyone living in the West Ocean City area who has been a victim recently of a theft from a vehicle or residence is urged to contact the primary investigator, Det. A. Kagan, at 410-352-3476. In the meantime, WCBI officials are reminding citizens to make sure their vehicles are locked and the windows are rolled up.

Attempted Murder Arrest

SALISBURY — A Fruitland man is being held on attempted murder and assault charges this week after allegedly attempting to run over another person during an argument.

Shortly after 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to the Skylar Drive area in Fruitland for a reported assault that had occurred. The investigation revealed a suspect, later identified as John Edward Williams, 71, of Fruitland, had allegedly tried to run over the identified victim with a pick-up truck during the argument. The victim was not injured during the incident.

MSP Troopers immediately identified Williams as the suspect and he was taken into custody a short time later. Williams has been charged with attempted murder and first-degree assault. As of late Wednesday, he was being detained at Wicomico County Central Booking while awaiting an initial appearance with a District Court Commissioner.

Alleged Knife Assault

WEST OCEAN CITY — A West Ocean City woman was arrested on assault charges last weekend after allegedly attempting to stab her boyfriend with a butcher knife.

Shortly after 2 a.m. last Sunday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a residence on Sunset Ave. for a reported domestic assault. Troopers interviewed the victim who said his girlfriend, identified as Brandy Durham, 33, had attempted to stab him several times with a large butcher knife, according to police reports.

The victim told police he was able to shield himself from the knife blows by using a coffee table as protection. The victim told police when Durham realized police were responding, she fled the scene. She was later arrested and charged with first-degree assault. She was taken into custody and later released after posting a $15,000 bond.

More Domestic Assault

BERLIN — A Berlin man was arrested on first-degree assault charges last weekend after allegedly attacking his live-in girlfriend.

Around 7:15 p.m. last Sunday, a female victim came into the Berlin Police station to report a domestic assault that had allegedly occurred earlier in the day. The victim told police her boyfriend of five years, identified as Travis Wayne Johnson, 29, had forced her to the ground, climbed on top of her and placed his hands around her throat before choking her. The victim told police Johnson later stopped choking her and left her alone.

When the victim tried to leave the residence, Johnson took her keys to prevent her from doing so. Several hours went by before the victim was able to get her keys and leave the residence, according to police reports. The victim came directly to the Berlin Police station after she got away. According to police reports, the victim had obvious visible injuries to her neck that were consistent with her story.

Maryland State Police troopers responded to the residence and arrested Johnson. He has been charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault and reckless endangerment. He is being held on a $25,000 bond.

Trespassing Charged

SALISBURY — An Eden man was arrested on trespassing charges last weekend after refusing to leave a Salisbury store after being asked to do so.

Around 6:40 p.m. last Friday, Salisbury Police responded to the Lowe’s store on North Salisbury Blvd. for a reported subject refusing to leave the store. The officers met with store managers, who told them the suspect, identified as Robert Stewart, Jr., 56, was refusing to leave the lumber area of the store.

The officers met with Stewart, who also refused to leave when urged to do so by police. Stewart was arrested and charged with trespassing.

Alleged Officer Assault

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was arrested on assault and disorderly conduct charge last weekend after allegedly scrapping police.

Around 1:30 a.m. last Sunday, Salisbury Police on routine patrol were contacted by security personnel at the Greene Turtle on North Salisbury Blvd. who needed assistance with a disorderly subject, later identified as Blair Dwight Sample, 33. Officers entered the establishment and made contact with Sample, who was allegedly yelling profanities at other patrons.

The officers attempted to get Sample to leave the bar without success. During the ensuing scuffle, Sample allegedly tried to strike two officers. He was arrested and charged with second-degree assault and resisting arrest.

Domestic Assault Alleged

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was arrested on assault and malicious destruction of property charges this week after allegedly striking and choking a female victim and destroying her cell phone when she attempted to call for help.

Around 2:20 a.m. last Sunday, Salisbury Police responded to a reported domestic assault on Lockwood Circle. The officers met with a female victim, who said she had been in an argument with a suspect later identified as Lorenzo Charles Aydelott, 27, that had turned physical.

The victim told police Aydelott struck her in the face and choked her. The victim told police Aydelott then destroyed her cell phone as she attempted to call for assistance. The victim did not require medical attention. Aydelott was arrested and charged with second-degree assault and malicious destruction of property.

Fleeing, Eluding Arrest

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was arrested on assault, fleeing and eluding and other charges this week after allegedly choking a female victim before attempting to run away from police.

Around 10:45 p.m. last Sunday, Salisbury Police responded to the Wood Brook Drive area for a report of a male allegedly assaulting a female outside a residence. When police arrived, they observed a male suspect, later identified as Jerrod Terrecen Timmons, 32, of Salisbury, attempting to flee the scene. After a brief foot chase, Timmons was apprehended and returned to the scene.

The officers met with the female victim, who told police she had been in an argument with Timmons that had escalated to the point the suspect had choked her and torn her clothing. During the investigation, the officers learned Timmons allegedly destroyed the front door of the residence. Timmons was arrested and charged with second-degree assault, fleeing an eluding a police officer and malicious destruction of property.

Assault Plea In Attempted Murder Case

SALISBURY — A Salisbury woman charged in February with attempted murder after stabbing her boyfriend during a domestic dispute pleaded guilty this week in District Court to second-degree assault and was sentenced to three years in jail, most of which was suspended.

Shortly before 1 p.m. on Feb. 27, Salisbury Police responded to a residence on Walston Ave. for a reported assault with a knife. Upon arrival, officers met with an adult male victim and other witnesses who reported he had been stabbed by a suspect identified as Shirell Peggy Fyall, 41.

The victim told police he was involved in a domestic argument with Fyall who produced a large, serrated kitchen knife and lunged at him. The victim told police he avoided the knife, but was cut on the right hand. The officers then went to a residence on East Church St. and located Fyall and the knife used during the assault. Fyall was taken into custody without incident and the knife was collected as evidence.

The victim did require emergency medical treatment. Fyall was charged with attempted second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and intoxicated endangerment. Last week in District Court, Fyall pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and was sentenced to three years in jail, all but 18 months of which was suspended. She was placed on probation for three years upon her release.

Traffic Stop Nets Pot Bust

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was arrested on marijuana possession charges this week after a routine traffic stop.

Around 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Salisbury Police stopped a vehicle on North Salisbury for routine traffic violations. As the officers approached the vehicle, the noticed the driver, identified as Henry Thor Gonzalez, 43, of Salisbury, acting suspiciously.

When the officers asked Gonzalez about his suspicious behavior, the suspect voluntarily gave police a quantity of marijuana and a smoking device containing suspected marijuana. Gonzalez was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.

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